best PJ bass??

[4Mal]

Can't vote for the SB-2 - It truly isn't a PJ - yeah it looks like one but doesn't sound like it. Not even close. If you must go that route, do it only with an Ash (Premium) body version. The Basswood bodied version is just muddy.

My vote - 90's MIM Precision Special. 7/8th's sized P body, 22 fret J neck. The two I've had were really easy to setup. Really easy basses to play. You should be able to get in at $300 - I just sold one at $350 but it had a bunch of fairly costly mod's to it.

That leaves you dinero left for the pickup upgrade that is all you really have to do. The MIM's aren't all that bad but - there's way better choices. Construction qualty is very good, much better than most of the lower end Fender stuff that I've seen recently. Way beyond the Fender Standard Series in other words. More on par withthe 50's / 60's classics.

At around $300 - a steal - and - it sounds like a P or a J or a PJ - not like a boomy P on steroids...

 

[louelou]

Keep checking the bay for a fender p bass special. The current ones are active, but you may be able to find one from about 3 years ago that were passive. Exactly what you're looking for. Just add new bridge.

 

[Marill]

Yamaha BB414 (passive) or BB614 (active)

P/J configuration, good bang for the buck!

 

[heavyfunkmachin]

hum... so far, i think i´ll go passive...

btw, the g&l sb-2 has NO TONE CONTROLL!!!!


everything its pointing to a p special... but mim over squier for sure??

i mean.... squiers get so much love lately... in the other hand, im so happy with my mim jazz....

 

[EnderZ13]

G & L Tribute SB-2

+1. But, if you can find a Reggie Hamilton Jazz on Ebay in your price range grab it, hands down, the best P/J available now. Serious very under rated because not widely distributed to stores, so not many have had the opportunity to try. Invalid Link Removed

 

[NOLA Bass]

Fender Aerodyne Jazz?

+1

 

[NOLA Bass]

I have a Fender MIA Hot Rod Precision but a used one is going to be out of your price range. What about a mexican model, I know they had one or two that had the added j pickup.

 

[X Wolf]

hum... so far, i think i´ll go passive...

btw, the g&l sb-2 has NO TONE CONTROLL!!!!

On my passive P/J's, I actually rarely use the tone control, it's normally cranked. When I tried an SB-2, I didn't miss the missing tone control at all.

By the way, a used MIM Fender or a Squire would have the advantage of having a lot of parts available for future modding if you are so inclined. Just my 2 cents.

George

 

[bassist 4 life]

Yamaha BB!!

 

[bassmanrocke]

I have 2 Chinese squier p specials(both '98s by coincident). I picked one up at a pawn shop for $115 and it already had bartolinis. The other I got for $85 at another pawn shop. I put Gotoh Alnico 5 pickups and an aftermarket bridge in it and still have less than $180 in it. The chinese squiers have straight post tuners similar to seventies fenders, and jazz width necks with a light poly coat and no skunk stripe. They feel closer to sixties jazz necks than most reissues. My advise, try to find one at your local pawn shops.

 

[Billy-Bob]

No votes for an 80's Fender Japan P-J bass? I have a JV model and it is an awesome sounding bass--I'd highly recommend one.

Billy-Bob

 

[mikeypbass]

My teacher has an Alembic Active PJ, it's quite amazing